The Fall release lineup this year just got a lot less crowded, much to the celebration of Baldur’s Gate fans.
PC gamers are in for a delightful surprise as developer Larian Studios ushers in the much-anticipated Baldur’s Gate 3 much earlier than initially scheduled. But it’s not all smooth sailing as the PlayStation 5 version sees a slight delay.
Larian Studios announced that its signature role-playing game set in the enchanting Dungeons & Dragons universe would hit Windows PCs on August 3, almost a full month ahead of the original release date. The move, calculated to avoid one of the most stacked launch periods in recent memory, will help Baldur’s Gate 3 stand out among a smorgasbord of incoming AAA titles, including Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Alan Wake 2, Starfield, and the Phantom Liberty expansion for Cyberpunk 2077.
The tale differs for the PlayStation 5 release, as it’s slated for September 6, one week later than initially planned. According to Larian’s director of publishing, Michael Douse, the decision to delay the PS5 version was to reach a “technical bar that matches our design ambitions,” ensuring the game runs at a steady 60 FPS on the console.
Baldur’s Gate 3, a sequel to BioWare’s popular RPG series, first saw light in early access in 2020. Since then, it has rolled out multiple updates including new chapters, characters, and abilities. The full release promises to unveil over three-quarters of the game’s content that has remained under wraps.
As for the Xbox Series X/S version, it still lacks a concrete launch date. The development team’s current goal is to ensure a satisfactory performance on both the high-end Xbox Series X and the less-powerful Series S. Although there have been a couple of setbacks, Vincke expressed the studio’s commitment to overcoming them.
It’s an enormous task, given the breadth of Baldur’s Gate 3. Michael Douse, in a recent press release, revealed that it has a bit over 170 hours of cinematics and a dialogue volume thrice that of the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy. Furthermore, the game will feature multiplayer and split-screen co-op, providing a truly immersive D&D experience.
With the revised release schedule, Baldur’s Gate 3 will dodge Starfield on PC while providing a fantastic RPG alternative for PS5 players craving a deep role-playing experience. The PS5 launch date aligns perfectly with the absence of Bethesda’s Starfield on Sony’s console, enabling Larian’s D&D epic to bask in the spotlight.
Undoubtedly, Baldur’s Gate 3’s massive scale is shaping up to be a notable factor in RPG history, with its narrative richness and gameplay variety promising an astronomical game that never fails to surprise. Vincke seems highly optimistic about the game’s imminent full release, stating, “I cannot wait to hear the stories our players will tell when the full game releases. It’s time to Gather your Party.”
Baldur’s Gate III is just the latest big title to hit the storeshelves this year. Already, we’ve seen potential all-timers in the Resident Evil 4 Remake, Final Fantasy 16, Diablo 4, Street Fighter 6, and the current frontrunner for GOTY, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
It remains to be seen which game will be crowned later this year but, the ultimate winners here are gamers who are in for quite the treat as the year comes to a close.
